The term zoroastrianism is, in general usage, essentially synonymous with mazdaism the worship of ahura mazda, exalted by zoroaster as the supreme divine authority. It likely influenced the other major western religionsjudaism, christianity, and islam. Zoroaster was born in northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. The iranian prophet and reformer zarathustra greek. Even if somewhat outdated this is a classical introduction to ancient iranian religion. Zoroastrianism was founded in persia ancient iran around 3500 years ago by the prophet zoroaster, or zarathustra. The iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bcemore widely known outside iran as zoroaster, the greek form of his nameis traditionally regarded as the founder of the religion. It is a heterodox yet orthopraxic faith centered in a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism.
The alternative, less common englishlanguage form zarathushtra is a. Angra mainyus origin and so this was most likely another aspect of the old religion which he kept. Whilst this figure is known as zoroaster in the west being derived from the greek zoroastres. These are easy to understand and written in simple english. Zoroastrianism now has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 worshipers worldwide. Jan 21, 2020 preaching his new religion and conducting new rituals, zoroaster made enemies of the elites in the society who maintained the status quo by conducting old style rituals. Once upon a time, before wisdom was confined to books, shamans of the great spirit anticipated an afterlife for their peoples. Jun, 2018 zoroastrianism has some historical connection to ancient indianiranian religions. Biography of zarathustra, founder of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. By claiming that every person was an active soldier in the cosmic struggle and was free to choose sides, he imbued human life with a higher dimension and meaning than it had in earlier religious systems. The place of zoroaster in history by estakhr, mehdi ebook.
Zoroastrianism is the ancient, preislamic religion of persia modernday iran. The prophet zoroaster reforms religious belief, retains ancient mythological symbols and. The enlightenment saw the philosophes and their like minds enlist zoroasters authority to combat revelation and to advance the cause of natural religion. Although the exact time and place of his birth is never known he is believed to have lived in eastern iran sometime between 1500 bce and 500 bce. Aug, 2019 zoroaster was a prophet of ancient persia, whose teachings laid the foundation for the religion known as zoroastrianism, which largely dominated the land of iran until the arrival of islam after the fall of the sassanian empire. While details are scarce, zoroaster probably elevated an already existing deity into the role of supreme creator, thus creating the worlds first monotheistic religion a religion worshipping one creator. Zoroastrianism eventually became the official religion of ancient persia and its distant subdivisions from the 6th century bce to the 7th century ce. Zoroastrianism what is, history, beliefs, characteristics. Middle persian and pahlavi works created in the 9th and 10th century contain many religious zoroastrian books, as most of the writers and copyists were part of.
Although flippant at times and not rooted in history, voltaires. May 30, 2016 and the philosophy of the parsi religion by s. Founded by the iranian prophet and reformer zoroaster in the 6th century bc, zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. The fresh reader into zoroastrianism will be helped greatly by the forward. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster or zarathustra in ancient iran. This book traces the continuous history of the faith from the time it was preached by zoroaster down to the present day a span of about 3500 years. Zoroaster is believed to have been born in nw persia. The avesta consists of fragmentary and muchcorrupted texts. Zarathustra, also known as zoroaster, was an ancient religious leader and philosopher born sometime between about 1700 bce and 600 bce, who is credited with founding zoroastrianism. Who was zoroaster and how did he gain religious followers. Zoroastrianism and world history amazing bible timeline.
Zoroaster also known as zarathustra was an important religious figure in. Its concepts of one god, judgment, heaven and hell. Zoroaster was a religious reformer teaching a monotheistic religion based on choosing between light and darkness truth and falsehood. Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in the mid5th century bce. So fire becomes, in zoroastrianism, the sacred symbol of truth. Most scholars place zoroaster s life earlier in history as long ago as 1200 1800 bce, mainly due to the ancient eastern persian language he used to compose his hymns. The iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m.
Scholars differ considerably about the date of zoroaster s birth. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century bce in persia iran. He served as an inspiration to millennia of philosophers, including those of classic greek, judaism, islam, and christianity, to as recently as friedrich nietzsche 18441900. Zoroastrianism is ranked with judaism, christianity, and islam among the higher religions originating in the middle east the dates given for zoroaster by ancient and modern writers differ considerably. Zoroaster, also known as zarathustra, zarathushtra spitama and ashu zarathushtra, was a prophet who started a new movement, which eventually developed into a new religion called zoroastrianism. The second half of the book is important quotes from the sacred texts. Buy cheap zoroastrianism books online zoroastrianism. Apr 23, 2019 zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion.
Zoroaster was born into a polytheistic religion similar to early hinduism in northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. This book covers not just the history of zoroastrianism but also some of its theology and background information crucial to understanding this obscure major. List of books and articles about zoroaster online research. Zoroaster rejects all but one of the forms of sacrifice practised by the indoiranians, and keeps only sacrifice by fire. Zoroaster validating auhority continued to be exploited even after the arrival and the translation of the avesta in france which shattered the image the west had made of him. Iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bce more widely known outside iran as zoroaster, the greek form of his nameis traditionally regarded as the founder of the religion. Chapter 36 of the bundahishn one of the pahlavi books offers a. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. Apr 10, 2015 history of zoroastrianism zarathustra in greek, zoroaster was a persian prophet who at the age of 30 believed he had seen visions of god, whom is ahura mazda, the creator of all that is good and who alone is worthy of worship. By 650 bce, the zoroastrian faith, a monotheistic religion founded on the ideas of the philosopher zoroaster, had become the official religion of ancient persia. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Oct 02, 2009 zoroaster was born in northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the. Buy cheap zoroastrianism books online zoroastrianism book.
Zoroastrianism may have been the first monotheistic religion, and its emphasis on. He was an ethical prophet of the highest rank, stressing constantly the need. It survives there in isolated areas but primarily exists in india, where the descendants of zoroastrian persian immigrants are known as parsis, or parsees. The religion founded by zoroaster was the first major world religion and has had significant influence on other religious and philosophical systems, including christianity, judaism, islam, buddhism, the bahai faith, gnosticism and greek philosophy. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster or zarathustra in ancient iran approximately 3500 years. Zoroastrianism has some historical connection to ancient indianiranian religions. The obscure religion that shaped the west bbc culture. His youthful studies were crowned at the age of 30 by the first of a series of revelations of a new religion. The teachings of zoroaster and the philosophy of the parsi. It does not flow either quickly or smoothly, but boyce masterfully puts order into that imperfectly documented flowthe fresh reader into zoroastrianism will be helped greatly by the forward section of this volume in that forward, she.
Zoroaster, the name by which he is ordinarily known, is derived from the greek form of zarathushtra or zarathustra camel handler. Jenny roses lively and engaging account comprises a very readable, well informed survey of zoroastrianism and its history. Zartosht, zardosht, was the founder of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion that was founded by the prophet zoroaster in persia modern day iran. Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three persian dynasties, until the muslim conquest of persia in the seventh century a. History of zoroastrianism zarathustra in greek, zoroaster was a persian prophet who at the age of 30 believed he had seen visions of god, whom is ahura mazda, the creator of all that is good and who alone is worthy of worship. These, we are informed, dealt with religion, philosophy, ethics, medicine, and various sciences. However, zoroaster is the prophet of ancient iran persia. He is credited with the authorship of the yasna haptanghaiti as. Yet certain features of his religious reform stand out. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4000 years ago. Another example can be seen in the fact that zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion, while the people of zoroasters society was essentially polytheistic zoroastrian devotional art depicts the religions founder with white clothing and a long beard. This article continues after a message from the authors these articles are written by.
The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains are not these, o soul, the vision of him who reigns. Zoroastrianism is ranked with judaism, christianity, and islam among the higher religions originating in the middle east. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. This book traces the continuous history of the faith from the time it was preached by zoroaster down to the present day a span of about 3,500 years.
The name by which he is commonly known in the west is from the greek form of his original name,zarathushtra, which means shining light. But the earliest existing expression of the universalist idea of an afterlife where god saves all people can be found in the revelation of zoroaster, prophet of the magi. Jul 23, 2017 the second half of the book is important quotes from the sacred texts. It is not known how the religion spreads through iran to become, eventually, the official religion of the achaemenid dynasty. The entire history of the universe, past, present, and future, the religion teaches, is divided into four periods, each of 3,000 years. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. Zoroasterzarathustra c 550523 bce was a prophet and spiritual teacher who founded the religion of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism, known to its followers as the zarathushti din zoroastrian religion, developed from the words, ideas, beliefs, and rituals attributed to a devotional poet named zarathushtra later middle persian or pahlavi. Since the appearance of the prophet known as zoroaster or zarathustra in the persian world to the present day has remained one of the most ancient religions of the ancient era.
Zoroaster s parents were middleclass, and his father was probably a horse or camel trader as well as a priest. Life of zoroaster according to modern scholar estimations. Zarathushtra eventually came to be regarded as the founder and prophet of the. Zoroaster is said to have fled his homeland, arriving in heratmerv todays turkmenistan and becoming adviser to king vishtaspato, where the religion grew. Indoiranian religion in zarathushtras time was polytheistic meaning that people worshipped multiple gods. The exact date as to its foundation is still not clear although it is placed on the bible timeline around 2000 2200 bc.
Islam assimilated the zoroastrians to the people of the book, it evinced a rare historical sense and solved the problem of the origin of the avesta. List of books and articles about zoroastrianism online. Outdated from the point of view of history of religions, but contains the late traditions about zarathustra. To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom. History of zoroastrianism zoroastrianism was founded in persia ancient iran around 3500 years ago by the prophet zoroaster, or zarathustra. Zoroaster was the persian prophet on whose teachings the ancient religion of zoroastrianism is based. Centuries before dantes divine comedy, the book of arda viraf described in. Founded by the iranian prophet and reformer zoroaster in the 6th. Zoroastrianism eventually became the official religion of ancient persia and its distant.
Zoroastrianism, the ancient pre islamic religion of iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in india, where the descendants of zoroastrian iranian persian immigrants are known as parsis, or parsees. Scholars differ considerably about the date of zoroasters birth. The history of the religion that he founded is even more complicated and controversial than the history of prezoroastrian iranian religion. The long history of zoroastrianism from about bce to the present does not flow either quickly or smoothly, but boyce, in these 3 volumes, masterfully puts order into that imperfectly documented flow. I now feel armed with enough knowledge to try a reading of the avesta, the sacred zoroaster texts. Zoroastrianism, the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. This led several western schools of thought to claim him as their precursor and first master. Zoroastrian refugees, called parsis, escaped muslim persecution in iran by emigrating to india. Zoroaster is credited with authorship of the gathas as well as the yasna haptanghaiti, hymns composed in his native dialect, old avestan, and which comprise the core of zoroastrian thinking.
Zoroaster was born in northeast iran, close to the border of modern day afghanistan old persian empire. Iranian religious prophet and teacher zoroaster zarathushtra. Zoroastrianism is the monotheistic faith established by the persian prophet. For instance, zoroaster was against animal sacrifices, which were carried out by the priests at that time for certain rituals. It centers on the words of the prophet zarathushtra, called zoroaster by the ancient greeks, and focuses worship upon ahura mazda, the lord of wisdom. Zarathushtra spitama aka zoroaster surely inspired his listeners by many sermons and also personal examples, and these experiences of theirs were reflected and reproduced v. The teachings of zoroaster, and the philosophy of the. May 23, 2014 zoroaster initiated the tradition of devotional monotheistic and doctrinally dualistic religion. He was born into a bronze age culture with a polytheistic religion the worship of many gods, which included animal sacrifice and.
Textual sources for the study of zoroastrianism by boyce, mary, boyce, mary isbn. Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the other major western religions. Apr 19, 20 founded by the iranian prophet and reformer zoroaster in the 6th century bc, zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. First taught among nomads on the asian steppes, zoroastrianism became the state religion of the three great iranian empires and had a remarkable influence on other world faiths. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. Zoroaster, also called zarathustra, was an ancient persian prophet who founded the first world religion zoroastrianism. It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. Zoroaster founded his religion in the 6th century bc. This is a thread related to the religion zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. Scriptures zoroastrianisms scriptures are the avesta or the zend avesta pahlavi avestalaw, zendcommentary. Its religious core is a collection of songs or hymns, the gathas, thought to be in the main the very words of zoroaster. Though he was a native speaker of old avestan and lived in the eastern part of the iranian plateau, his birthplace is uncertain.
According to the zend avesta, the sacred book of zoroastrianism, he was born in azerbaijan, in northern persia, probably in the seventh century bc, although some scholars put the timeframe for zoroaster much earlier. He is credited with rejecting the many gods of ancient iranian people and declaring a single god and the. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. The dates given for zoroaster by ancient and modern writers differ considerably. Zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. The whole book is relatively short, and i managed to skim read it in a few hours. Modern zoroastrian priest wearing mouth cover while tending a temple fire.
631 1317 569 1492 683 595 939 777 861 459 1576 814 614 1396 551 1605 1417 1284 1323 1276 223 444 1509 926 884 1479 185 778 883 1494 370 238 317 1209 1065 1399 1585 476 842 301 59 788 207 790